Vladimir Putin was given an interactive presentation on the progress of the Far East’s development. Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev and Minister for the Development of the Far East and Arctic Alexei Chekunkov delivered their reports.
During the videoconference, the President launched several major facilities: a copper cathode production plant at the Udokan mining and smelting complex, Roskhim’s mineral fertiliser plant in Nakhodka, a container terminal at the Pervomaisky port, the Port Elga marine coal terminal, a pharmaceutical plant of the Pharmasyntez group, the 500 kV Varyag substation, the 500-kilometer Primorskaya GRES–Varyag power transmission line, the Innovative Scientific and Technological Centre on Russky Island, and the Artem transport and logistics hub. In addition, construction began on the second Severomuysky tunnel.
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The head of state was also briefed on projects by the Far Eastern animation studio Mechtalyot. Later, Vladimir Putin took part via videoconference in the opening of new regional Voin centres in Primorye Territory, Karelia, and Amur Region.
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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Dear friends, colleagues,
I would like to once again address all those who are involved in the construction, preparation, engineering and implementation of these wonderful projects across various spheres. In the past, we actively worked, together with nearly all the colleagues present here, on preparing development plans for the Far East. These plans are now being implemented. The future of our country depends, to a large degree, on the development of the Far East.
I congratulate you on today’s events and wish you success and good luck.
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(The President’s comment on the presentation of projects by the Far Eastern animation studio Mechtalyot.) You know, at the beginning of the 2000s, we decided to make additional efforts for the development of the Far East, in particular, the Primorye Territory, and the Far East as a whole, so as to prevent the depopulation of these territories.
Our forefathers made great and truly heroic efforts to explore and settle these territories for the future of Russia. The problem of depopulation, that is, the population decline we faced here, the loss of previous achievements due to the shutdown of many enterprises under new [economic] conditions, and other issues created numerous associated threats.
Relevant decisions were made, which helped and continue to help create favourable conditions for doing business in modern times. It turned out to be a multifaceted and complicated task, because it is not enough to make plans for building enterprises. For people to live in modern conditions, it is not acceptable to do what we did in the past, that is, install portable cabins for the builders of industrial enterprises or logistics facilities. Modern people require modern living conditions.
Therefore, we needed to think from the outset about developing logistics, transport and the social sphere, including healthcare, education and culture. This is why we started building national-level cultural centres here and fostering cooperation with our friends and neighbours.
Of course, creating favourable living conditions for modern people is impossible without addressing cultural matters in the broadest sense, including what we now call the creative industries.
In other words, what you are doing is very important. You are strengthening the traditional cultural code of all peoples of Russia. The Far East was traditionally developed by members of different ethnic groups that lived in the territory of the former Soviet Union and modern Russia.
It is an extremely important undertaking. I sincerely wish you success. We will do everything in our power to support you.
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